Mosque Maryam


Mosque Maryam in Chicago, Illinois, is the headquarters of the Nation of Islam. It is at 7351 South Stony Island Avenue in the South Shore neighborhood. Louis Farrakhan's headquarters are in the premises. The building was originally the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church before it relocated to suburban Palos Hills. Elijah Muhammad purchased the building in 1972 and the mosque was then repurchased by Louis Farrakhan 16 years later, in 1988. It was named after Mary, the mother of Jesus. Farrakhan said former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi had also lent Elijah Muhammad, his predecessor as head of the Nation of Islam, $3 million to convert the former
Greek Orthodox church in Chicago into the Mosque Maryam.

Design

The main prayer hall is unusual for a mosque, since it was originally the church's nave that contained pews later replaced with seats, where mosques usually have only an open floor space to spread prayer rugs on which to kneel.
Mosque Maryam serves as the headquarters and National Center for the Nation of Islam. Adjacent to the mosque is Muhammad University of Islam, an educational institute for boys and girls from preschool through 12th grade.